The Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress was created in 1980 in honor of the late Republican senator from Illinois. The award is intended to recognize U.S.-based journalists whose work shows thoughtful appraisal and insight into the workings of the U.S. Congress and that represents the highest standards of journalism. Entries are judged on how well they covered the workings of the Congress as a whole; helped illuminate the actions of elected officials or congressional staff; or described the workings of congressional policies. The award and a cash prize of $5,000 will be presented at the NPF Awards Dinner on Feb. 13, 2019.

John Donnelly, a national security and foreign policy reporter for CQ Roll Call, has won the Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress.

The judges’ citation: “John Donnelly’s reporting demonstrates outstanding mastery of the defense beat. He methodically hammers away at questionable defense spending and Pentagon assertions through painstaking reporting on legislation and military arcana.”

Judges also gave an honorable mention to Politico for a prescient piece on why Paul Ryan would leave the House speakership.